Even without all the Infinity stones, the "population-control fanatic" is still very strong. If Raymond's current Silver sub-personalities fought him, they would lose.
But strength isn't everything.
Since he knows this world well and can use the situation, he doesn't always need a head-on fight.
Like with Dormammu—it looked risky, but it wasn't as bad as it seemed. He hadn't planned to oppose Dormammu at first, but it taught him a lesson: sometimes you need more courage.
Now the Reality Stone was right in front of him, and no one else was fighting for it.
Should he really let this chance go?
After only a moment's hesitation, Raymond made up his mind. If you refuse a gift from fate, you pay for it later. If you don't take a weapon when it's right there, what are you even doing?
As for the "fanatic"?
"Damn purple potato freak—if you really show up, even if I can't kill you, I'll make you bleed three times," he told himself.
He walked over to Thor. "Don't waste time. Get her to a hospital!"
The words snapped Thor out of it. "Thanks!"
He lifted Jane with one arm, spun his hammer with the other, and flew toward the rift.
Raymond seized the moment, moved beside the Reality Stone, and tried to store it in his system inventory—just like he had stored the crystal that sealed Dormammu's projection.
If it worked, it would be perfect. The system inventory had blocked Dormammu's tracking; it should block others too.
Just as he began, a new system prompt appeared—different from before:
[Ding—You are trying to collect the Reality Stone. This will slightly change the world's course. Confirm? It may bring unknown risks!]
[Ding—Collection successful! You collected the Reality Stone and slightly changed the world's course. Development +2000.]
He had stored the Reality Stone and earned 2,000 Development Points—equal to 10,000 Universal Points.
That was exactly the cost of one Gold Character Card.
Although this might make Thanos target him, and could also bring Malekith after him, those are only chances. Risking it for ten thousand points is worth it.
After storing the Reality Stone, Raymond did not hesitate. He left the pocket space at once.
He switched to the John sub-personality and shut down the magic circle on the floor. The rift closed.
"Tell your teammate this: friends are friends, business is business. He still hasn't paid me. Have him make it up next time," Raymond told Tony, half joking.
"Don't worry, I won't forget," Tony said. As a businessman, he knew not to mix friendship and business. He had introduced Raymond to Thor, so he would handle the middleman part.
After a few words with Tony, Raymond left first with the Red Devil.
The year-end party in Edinburgh wasn't over. He had rushed over because Tony called. Clarice and Lorna were still there.
More importantly, he couldn't wait to splurge. (TL/N: splurge is the act of spending money and buying things you do not need and often cannot afford)
Muspelheim is the harshest of the Nine Realms, also called the Realm of Fire.
All life there has fire traits.
The Fire Giants rule Muspelheim, like the Dark Elves rule Svartalfheim and the Aesir rule Asgard.
Surtur is the leader of the Fire Giants. At his peak, he was even stronger than Odin.
Odin even lost one eye because of him.
But Surtur is a classic brute—very strong, but not very smart.
Odin bested him with strategy and took his source of power, the Eternal Flame. Now Surtur's strength is likely less than one-tenth of his prime.
Odin didn't dare kill him. A prophet once said that if Surtur is slain, he may be reborn from the Eternal Flame. Even at his peak in old age, Odin only beat him with tricks. The twilight-stage Odin would not be his match.
So Odin would never kill him.
Surtur has always tried to take back the Eternal Flame and wipe out Asgard.
With less than a tenth of his power, going to Asgard himself would be asking for shame.
Sending others would be just sending them to death.
So there had been no progress.
That day, two special guests came to his palace.
With a loud barrage, the guards outside were blown away, crying out.
Two figures in black cloaks walked in slowly.
Surtur opened his eyes on the throne, grabbed a giant axe beside him, and hurled it at them.
The whistle of the throw seemed to tear the air.
The one in front caught the axe with ease.
"Looks like the rumors are true. Odin really stripped you of most of your power," the cloaked figure said with a smile.
"Who are you?!" Surtur shouted, shocked and angry.
"After so many years, you don't recognize an old friend?" Both figures lifted their hoods.
"It's you… Malekith! You're still alive?!" Surtur recognized him.
The one who caught the axe was Malekith, leader of the Dark Elves.
Beside him stood the Dark Elves' number two—Algrim the Strong.
Join .com/AHumanMadeMOFO to read ahead!